WASHINGTON, DC - Jermaine Marrow and Kalin Fisher scored 19 points each to lead five in double figures as Hampton defeated Howard 95-81 in the Battle of the Real HU on Thursday night.
Hampton (11-14/6-4) jumped out to a 10-0 lead on a layup by Akim Mitchell with 17:44 left in half. Howard went on a 16-4 run to lead for the first time at 16-14 on a Charles Williams triple with 11:56 remaining.
The Pirates responded with a 19-6 run as two Charles Wilson-Fisher free throws at the 5:16 mark gave Hampton a 35-24 lead. After holding a 41-31 lead with 90 seconds left, Hampton saw the host go on a 10-4 spurt to make it 45-41 on two RJ Cole free throws to close the half.
Howard trimmed the lead to 47-46 on a Cole layup with 17:44 left, Hampton pushed the lead back to double figures with a Trevond Barnes dunk to lead 61-51 with 13:40 left.
Barnes scored 17 points with four rebounds, three blocks and two assists. Wilson-Fisher added 12 points going 5-for 5 from floor and hit both free throws, Malique Trent-Street added 10 for Hampton as they hit 55% from floor, 53.3% from 3-point land and 21-24 from line (87.5%).
Hampton hosts Norfolk State on Saturday at 6 p.m.